U.S. patent application number 09/784420 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for electrical pin contact and housing.
Invention is credited to Ketelsleger, Kimberly A..
Application Number | 20010034167 09/784420 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26879142 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010034167 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ketelsleger, Kimberly A. |
October 25, 2001 |
Electrical pin contact and housing
Abstract
An electrical connector has a contact having redundant contact
points for interconnection to an electrical pin terminal. The
contact portion is defined by a base section of the terminal having
upstanding wall sections defined by upstanding strap portions and
an intermediate beam section. The intermediate beam section has a
first constricted portion defining parallel and opposed constricted
walls, where each constricted portion includes inwardly directed
C-shaped projections defining internal contact surfaces for contact
with a pin. The contact has an upstanding polarizing feature which
is wider than the upstanding wall sections of the contact member.
The corresponding housing includes a projection on the internal
surface of the cavities which allows the polarizing feature of the
contact to pass beneath, but which cannot allow improper loading of
the terminals within the respective terminal receiving
cavities.
Inventors: |
Ketelsleger, Kimberly A.;
(Mechanicsburg, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS
205 W. JEFFERSON BOULEVARD
SUITE 250
SOUTH BEND
IN
46601
US
|
Family ID: |
26879142 |
Appl. No.: |
09/784420 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60183460 |
Feb 18, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/851 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/4223 20130101;
H01R 13/11 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/851 |
International
Class: |
H01R 011/22; H01R
013/11 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An electrical terminal for contact with a pin, the terminal
comprising a contact section and a conductor connecting section,
the contact section comprising a base section and upper side wall
sections upstanding from said base section, the upper side wall
sections comprising front and rear strap portions extending
upwardly from said base and a beam section extending between said
front and rear strap portions, each said beam being inwardly
directed to receive a pin.
2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein each said inwardly directed
section of said beam section includes constricted portions of said
beam.
3. The terminal of claim 2, wherein said inwardly directed section
of each said beam further comprises at least one inwardly directed
projection extending from said constricted portions.
4. The terminal of claim 3, wherein each said constricted portion
includes two inwardly directed projections.
5. The terminal of claim 3, wherein said inwardly directed
projections are defined by C-shaped deformations in said beam
section.
6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein lower side wall sections extend
from said base section.
7. The terminal of claim 6, wherein said lower side wall sections
extend outwardly beyond said upper side wall sections.
8. The terminal of claim 7, wherein a common shear opening defines
said upper and lower side wall sections.
9. The terminal of claim 1, wherein said inwardly directed section
of each said beam further comprises at least one inwardly directed
projection extending from said beams.
10. An electrical terminal for contact with a pin, the terminal
comprising a pin contact section and a conductor connecting
section, the pin contact section comprising a base section and side
wall sections upstanding from said base section, the side wall
sections being separated to define upper side wall sections and
lower side wall sections, said upper side wall sections comprising
a mating contact for a pin and said lower side wall sections being
formed as polarizing extensions, and extending laterally outwardly
beyond said upper side wall sections.
11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein said upper side wall sections
comprise front and rear strap portions extending upwardly from said
base and a beam section extending between said front and rear strap
portions, each said beam portion including at least one inwardly
directed projection, to form a constricted section for receiving a
pin.
12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein each said beam section
includes two inwardly directed projections.
13. The terminal of claim 12, wherein said inwardly directed
sections are defined by C-shaped deformations in said beam
section.
14. The terminal of claim 10, wherein a common shear line defines
said upper and lower side wall sections.
15. An electrical connector assembly comprising an insulative
housing and at least one electrical terminal for contact with a
pin, the terminal comprising a pin contact section comprising a
base section and side wall sections upstanding from said base
section, the side wall sections being separated to define upper
side wall sections and lower side wall sections, said lower side
wall sections being formed as polarizing extensions, and extending
laterally outwardly beyond said upper side wall sections.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein said housing includes a
terminal receiving cavity for receipt of said terminal, said cavity
including a narrow passageway portion for receipt of said upper
side wall sections and a wide passageway portion for receipt of
said lower side walls sections.
17. The terminal of claim 15, wherein said upper side wall sections
comprising front and rear strap portions extending upwardly from
said base and a beam section extending between said front and rear
strap portions, each said beam portion including at least one
inwardly directed projection, to form a constricted section for
receiving a pin.
18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein each said beam section
includes two inwardly directed projections.
19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein said inwardly directed
projections are defined by C-shaped deformations in said beam
section.
20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein a common shear line defines
said upper and lower side wall sections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an improved electrical contact for
mating with a pin terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] The design of an electrical contact is tremendously
difficult due to the number of factors which must be considered.
Firstly, whether for mating with a pin or tab-type male
counterpart, the contact portion of the terminal must provide
adequate contact force, even when the pin and tab are not perfectly
laterally aligned, or if the pin and contact portion are somewhat
skewed at an angle. Furthermore, the human factors aspect of
loading the terminals into a corresponding housing must be
considered such that the terminals are not positioned within their
terminal receiving cavities in an improper manner. This would cause
an incorrect electrical connection with the pin as well as possible
damage to the pin and/or contact portion of the terminal. Lastly,
pull-out force of the terminals relative to their housing must be
considered, that is, in that a certain pull-out force is required
such that if the strain is placed on the wire or cable of the
connector, the terminals are not removed from the housing, but yet
are locked in place.
[0004] For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,266,056 and 5,334,058 show
portions of the contact which forms a polarizing feature with the
contact housing. They also show a manner of rigidifying the locking
lance of the contact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The objects of the invention have been accomplished by
providing an electrical terminal for contact with a pin, the
terminal comprising a contact section and a conductor connecting
section. The contact section comprises a base section and upper
side wall sections upstanding from the base section. The upper side
wall sections comprise front and rear strap portions extending
upwardly from the base and a beam section extending between the
front and rear strap portions, each the beam being inwardly
directed to receive a pin.
[0006] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each inwardly
directed section of the beam section includes constricted portions.
The inwardly directed section of each beam further comprises at
least one inwardly directed projection extending from the
constricted portions. Preferably, each beam section includes two
inwardly directed projections. The inwardly directed sections are
defined by C-shaped deformations in the beam section.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower side
wall sections extend from the base section. The lower side wall
sections extend outwardly beyond the upper side wall sections, and
a common shear line defines the upper and lower side wall
sections.
[0008] The inwardly directed section of each the beam further
comprises at least one inwardly directed projection extending from
the beams.
[0009] In yet another embodiment of the invention, an electrical
terminal for contact with a pin comprises a contact section and a
conductor connecting section. The contact section comprising a base
section and side wall sections upstanding from the base section,
the side wall sections being separated to define upper side wall
sections and lower side wall sections, the upper side wall sections
comprising a mating contact for a pin and the lower side wall
sections being formed as polarizing extensions, and extending
laterally outwardly beyond the upper side wall sections.
[0010] In the preferred embodiment of this version, the upper side
wall sections comprise front and rear strap portions extending
upwardly from the base and a beam section extending between the
front and rear strap portions, each beam portion including at least
one inwardly directed projection, to form a constricted section for
receiving a pin. Each beam section includes two inwardly directed
projections, and the inwardly directed sections are defined by
C-shaped deformations in the beam section. Preferably, a common
shear line defines the upper and lower side wall sections.
[0011] In yet another embodiment of the invention, an electrical
connector assembly comprises an insulative housing and at least one
electrical terminal for contact with a pin. The terminal comprises
a contact section having a base section and side wall sections
upstanding from the base section. The side wall sections are
separated to define upper side wall sections and lower side wall
sections, and the lower side wall sections are formed as polarizing
extensions, and extend laterally outwardly beyond the upper side
wall sections.
[0012] The housing includes a terminal receiving cavity for receipt
of the terminal, the cavity including a narrow passageway portion
for receipt of the upper side wall sections and a wide passageway
portion for receipt of the lower side walls sections. The terminal
upper side wall sections comprise front and rear strap portions
extending upwardly from the base and a beam section extends between
the front and rear strap portions, where each the beam portion
includes at least one inwardly directed projection, to form a
constricted section for receiving a pin.
[0013] Preferably, each the beam section includes two inwardly
directed projections, where the inwardly directed projections are
defined by C-shaped deformations in the beam section. Also
preferably, a common shear line defines the upper and lower side
wall sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the housing of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the terminal of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the contact portion of the
terminal of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view through lines 5-5 of FIG.
4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the housing of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a lower plan view of the connector housing of FIG.
6;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through lines 8-8 of FIG.
6;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view through lines 9-9 of FIG.
6; and
[0023] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the flat blank of the terminal
prior to the forming step.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] With respect first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a contact terminal 2 is
shown generally at 2 for receipt within insulative housing 4, as
described herein. Housing 4 includes a plurality of terminal
receiving cavities 6 and pin receiving openings at 8 for entry of a
corresponding pin terminal. With respect again to FIG. 1, contact
terminal 2 generally includes a front contact section 10, a crimp
section 12, and a strain relief section 14.
[0025] With reference now to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the contact terminal
will be described in greater detail. As shown best in FIG. 1, the
contact section 10 includes a base section 20 with generally
upstanding wall sections 22 which upstand from the base section 20
to form parallel and opposed walls. As shown best in FIG. 3,
upstanding wall section 22 bounds a stamped opening 24 to define a
front strap portion 26 and a rear strap portion 28 extending
generally vertically upwardly from base section 20 to intersect
with a horizontally extending beam section 30. The beam sections 30
extend in a horizontally and generally opposed relation as
described more fully herein to define the contact section.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 4, the beam sections 30 are necked down at
radiused portions 32 to define constricted wall portions at 34. The
constricted wall portions 34 have inwardly directed projections or
deformations at 36, which are in a substantial C shape. The inside
surface of the inwardly directed projections 36 define inner
contact surfaces at 38. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 4, the
C-shaped deformations extend along the entire length of the beam
section 30 so as to provide a consistent projection or
deformation.
[0027] With respect again to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a polarizing member
is shown at 40. The polarizing member 40 is formed from the blank
of metal internal to the stamped opening 24. As shown best in FIG.
4, the polarizing member 40 is formed by a base section 42 which is
co-planar with base section 20, with upstanding wall sections 44
which extend outwardly from wall sections 22 but for only a short
vertical height. Said differently, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the
lateral projection of the contact at the lower portion of the
terminal, that is, adjacent to base sections 20 and 42, will be as
wide as the upstanding wall portions 44, yet at the top of the
terminal the lateral width of the terminal will be that of the
parallel walls 22.
[0028] Finally, and with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5, the base section
42 includes a stamped out opening at 48 which defines a rearwardly
directed locking lance 50 extending downwardly therefrom which
includes a swaged section 52 forming a downwardly directed
projection shown best in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the swaged
section 52 is formed at the intersection of the base section 42 and
the locking lance 50 so as to reinforce the locking lance and the
associated intersection between the base portion 42 and locking
lance 50.
[0029] With respect now to FIGS. 2, and 6 through 9, the housing 4
will be described in greater detail. With respect first to FIG. 2,
the insulative housing 4 generally includes a front mating face 60
flanked by polarizing posts at 62. With reference now to FIGS. 7-9,
the internal construction of the terminal receiving cavities 6 is
shown in greater detail. As shown best in FIG. 9, the cavities 6
include a rear entry portion 64 which includes a lower surface at
66 and an upper lead-in surface at 68. The cavity 6 further
includes an upper surface at 70 which extends forwardly towards the
front mating face 60. As shown in FIG. 8, the surface 70 extends
forwardly until an anti-stubbing projection at 72.
[0030] With reference now to FIG. 7, the housing 4 further includes
an opening at 74, through lower face 76, and extending into the
cavities 6 with a forwardly projecting cantilevered locking
projection 80. As shown in FIG. 9, the locking projection has an
upper surface at 82 with a transition surface at 84 transitioning
between the lower rear surface 66 and surface 82. The locking lance
80 further includes a locking projection at 86 and a rearwardly
angled surface at 88. Openings 90 extend inwardly, through front
face 60, and are directed towards the projection 86 as will be
described in further detail herein.
[0031] Finally, with respect to FIGS. 8 and 9, the terminal
receiving cavities 6 are defined by inner side walls 94 having
polarizing projections 96 extending outwardly into the cavity as
shown best in FIG. 9. The projection 96 includes a lower clearance
surface at 98 as well as a chamfered surface at 100.
[0032] With reference now to FIG. 10, the formation of the contact
will be described. Contact terminal 2 is shown in the flat blank
state with stamped openings 24 and 48 defining the side walls 22
and locking lance 50. The beam portions 30 will then be formed so
as to include both the constricted portions 34 and deformation 36.
It should be understood that the side walls 22 will then be formed
upwardly about fold lines 102, whereas walls 44 will be folded up
about lines 104.
[0033] With the contact terminal 2 as described above, the housing
4 can be loaded by placing a plurality of the contact terminals 2
within respective terminal receiving cavities 6 of the housing.
This is accomplished by placing the base portion 20 (FIG. 1) on the
rear lower surface 66 (FIG. 9) and moving the terminal inwardly
towards the front mating face 60. It should be appreciated that the
top edge 46 (FIG. 3) of the polarizing member 40 is beneath the
clearance surface 98 prior to reaching the transition surface 84.
It should also be appreciated that the width of the polarizing
walls 40 are such they could not fit between the polarizing
projections 96, but rather they are sized to only fit between
adjacent side walls 94. It should also be appreciated that the
upstanding side walls 22 of the contact terminal fit between the
two opposed polarizing projections 96 and allow passage of the
contact terminal thereby. The contact terminal can continue
forwardly until the locking lance 50 is resiliently biased beyond
the locking projection 80 and snaps against angled surface 88.
[0034] It should be appreciated that the design of the contact
terminal 2 and the corresponding housing 4 accomplish many
advantageous features. Firstly, the contact portion 10 is provided
with four points of contact, that is, four contact surfaces at 38
(FIG. 4) to provide for redundant contact with a pin terminal.
Thus, if a pin is laterally misaligned, or is angularly skewed, the
contact between the contact portion and pin will include at least
three points of contact. This contact force is also quite
resilient, extending from the beam sections 30 and from the
constricted portion 34.
[0035] This design also provides the advantageous feature that the
terminals and cavities are polarized such that polarizing members
40 must be positioned beneath the polarizing projections 96 in
order to be properly loaded in the housing. This feature is
provided in an efficient use of the stamped material, as described
above, in that the same opening 24, which defines the strap
portions 26, 28 and beam sections 30, also leaves the remaining
metal material which then is formed in the polarizing member
40.
[0036] Finally, as the locking lance 50 includes the swaged portion
52, the intersection of the base portion 20 and the looking lance
50 is rigidified by the swaged portion 52, such that the locking
lance is strengthened. Moreover, if the contact terminal 2 is
strained, the end of the locking lance 50 will move against the
surface 88 to enhance the locking force between the contact
terminal 2 and housing.
* * * * *